This likely will sound like sour grapes, whining, narcissism and greediness. It is all of the above.

Yet, after another year and another round of buying presents for engagements, wedding showers, weddings, baby showers, kids’ birthdays, graduations — high school and college — and then for other friends’ kids’ weddings and babies, I marvel again at how one-sided all this celebrating, congratulating and commemorating really is.

I’m single. I write about this because it might be instructive for those married people with children who somehow lack the imagination and/or empathy to know that their unmarried, childless friends also mark occasions that are special to them. It’s just not de rigueur that anyone else join them.

Married people feel entitled to gifts and plaudits for their big days. They send out invitations and announcements. They tell you where they’re registered for their preferred gifts.

Where is your moral compass pointing? What are your social values? Hark will explore faith, morals, ethics and character at the intersection of religion ethics, culture, politics, media, science, education, economics and philosophy. At times this blog will alert readers to breaking news and trends. At times it will attempt to look more deeply into intriguing subjects. Hark means to listen attentively, and we will, as readers talk back to the news.